I-League champions Churchill Brothers have been clubbed with 16-time winners East Bengal in the quarterfinal league stage of the 122nd edition of Durand Cup Football Tournament starting here from Sep 2.
Churchill, 2007 champions, East Bengal and newly-promoted I-League club Lajong Sports are in Group D while defending champions Mahindra United, Sporting Clube de Goa are in Group A with a qualifier.
Mohun Bagan, 16-time champions, five-time winners JCT are in Group B with a qualifier. Dempo, Air India and Army XI are in Group C.
The participation of the 10 I-League clubs, including the two Kolkata giants East Bengal and Mohun Bagan, in the Durand Cup will surely bring back the vanishing crowd at the Ambedkar Stadium. East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are playing in this prestigious tournament after a gap of two years.
Sixteen teams will fight out in the knock-out qualifying stage for two berths in the quarterfinal league stage starting Sep 11. The semi-final will be played Sep 20 and the final is slated for Sep 22.
The winning team will get Rs.500,000 while the runners-up will be richer by Rs.300,000.